Ahouxf.148 net.general utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihnss!houxi!houxf!rosin Fri May 7 09:26:53 1982 Re: debugging microcode in writable control store prised to find out that the undersiged is "the same Bob Rosin" who (co-)authored two classic papers on microprogramming and emulation (CSur, 1969; CACM, 1972). If they would have read the third in the series, entitled "the significance of micropgramming", it would be clear why I left the field. (The paper appeared in SigMicro Newsletter in 1976 or so. A friend remarked that it should have been entitled "the INsignificance of microprogramming.") Andy's request for info to help the hordes of engineers rediscover the hard-won lessons of the software field brings it all back to mind, like a recurring nightmare. Their is no cheap, easy way to accumulate the years of experience necessary to deal with complex software based systems. One need only examine the ugly reinventions of assembly languages generated by ignorant non-converts and to watch thousands of neophytes wallow in the pits of personal computer assemblers to realize that, while software is in its infancy, people who have studied and built software are way ahead of the great unwashed. Bob Rosin, Bell Labs, Lincroft, NJ, (201)576-3549 ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.